In This Issue:

- European M&A Dos and Don’ts for Non-European Buyers

- Current Developments Prospects of a Trade Agreement Between the EU and Japan

- Noteworthy Deals Intel Buys German Chipmaker Lantiq

- Recruit Holdings to Take Over Berlin-Based Start-Up Quandoo

- Solvay to Sell Germany-Based Refrigerant Business and Pharma Propellants to Daikin

- NTT Communications to Purchase Control of German e-shelter

- Hitachi to Acquire Two Rail Units of Finmeccanica

- Berkshire Hathaway to Take Over Hamburg-Based Detlev Louis

- Samsung SDI Acquires Battery Unit from Magna Steyr

- Fujitsu and Panasonic Merge System LSI Businesses Into New Global JV

- Excerpt from European M&A Dos and Don’ts for Non-European Buyers:

Inbound M&A in Europe by non-European buyers increased in 2014 by 68.6% compared to 2013, representing over a third of USD 901.4 billion total European M&A.1 For non-European buyers the basic framework of transactions may be similar, but there are a number of important dos and don’ts to help get European M&A deals over the line.

..Culture. Do not underestimate the differences in lifestyle, social protection and history. This is not just an issue to consider for M&A between the Americas or Asia and Europe but, especially where the target has operations across Europe, among countries on the same continent...